Kolkata witnessed a brief spell of thunderstorms and rain on Friday, May 29, as the city experienced a sudden change in weather conditions during the afternoon. The India Meteorological Department had indicated the possibility of generally stable conditions for the day, but parts of the city saw thunderstorm activity and light to moderate rain before weather conditions later stabilised.
Weather forecast for the day
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore has said the city will remain under generally cloudy skies throughout the day. The maximum temperature is likely to be around 35°C, while the minimum temperature may settle near 26°C.
Conditions recorded a day earlier
On Thursday, Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 34.4°C, which was 0.7 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature stood at 28.2°C, one degree above normal. Humidity levels remained high, with maximum relative humidity reaching 93 per cent. Despite overcast skies, no rainfall was recorded in the city till Friday morning.
Kolkata forecast for next week (29 May-4 June)
| Date | Min Temp (°C) | Max Temp (°C) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29-May | 25.0 | 33.0 | Partly cloudy sky with possibility of moderate rain or thunderstorm |
| 30-May | 27.0 | 35.0 | Thunderstorm with rain |
| 31-May | 28.0 | 35.0 | Generally cloudy sky with light rain |
| 01-Jun | 29.0 | 36.0 | Partly cloudy sky with possibility of development of thunder lightning |
| 02-Jun | 29.0 | 36.0 | Partly cloudy sky |
| 03-Jun | 29.0 | 37.0 | Partly cloudy sky |
| 04-Jun | 29.0 | 37.0 | Partly cloudy sky |
Rain and wind warning for districts
The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for several districts, including West Burdwan, Birbhum, East Burdwan and Bankura. These areas are likely to witness intense thunderstorms with wind speeds of 50 to 60 kmph along with heavy rainfall in the next few hours.
Possible impact on Kolkata
Meteorologists have indicated that the same weather system may affect Kolkata and nearby districts later in the day, bringing similar storm activity.
Recent rainfall data
Salt Lake recorded 44.7 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, the highest in south Bengal. Gusty winds were also reported from Kolkata and surrounding districts on Thursday.
Extended forecast
The wet spell is expected to continue through the weekend and into the following week. Forecasts suggest that between Saturday, May 30 and Thursday, June 4, Kolkata may see maximum temperatures between 33°C and 35°C and minimum temperatures between 26°C and 28°C. Intermittent thunderstorms and evening showers are likely on most days, offering relief from humid summer conditions.